Portsmouth fans not ‘massively concerned’ as contract decision made – Dan Bardell
Portsmouth appear to have no regrets over the termination of Gavin Whyte’s contract, says Dan Bardell.
Northern Ireland international Whyte left Pompey on deadline day by mutual consent having previously admitted he has struggled to settle in the area, away from his family in Belfast.
The 28-year-old remains without a club but the final hours of the transfer window had seen John Mousinho’s Blues attempt to offload several fringe players from a bulky squad.
Speaking exclusively to Pompey News, sports broadcaster Bardell said: “I don’t think Portsmouth fans will be massively concerned.
“For [Whyte] to leave by mutual consent on deadline day shows there wasn’t sufficient interest in the player and that he and the club were both willing for him to go.
“It gives him a chance to rebuild his career and get a new club outside of the transfer window.”
Portsmouth and Gavin Whyte part ways
There was barely any element of surprise to the news that Whyte had agreed a mutual contract termination at Portsmouth – he was never comfortable or first-choice at Fratton Park, and he was respectfully allowed to move on.
The winger and Anthony Scully were the only players to leave Pompey on deadline day, which will be a frustrating fact for Mousinho and the club who now have the largest squad in the entirety of the Championship with 31 players [Transfermarkt].
The head coach has already spoken of how he prefers to work with a sustainably-sized squad in order to give out enough minutes, and has ended up forced to axe three senior players from registration for league football until January.
Matt Ritchie, Josh Murphy, Elias Sorensen and Harvey Blair were all among the wide players to arrive at Fratton Park over the summer, ensuring Whyte was rarely going to get a look-in in the same way he was one of several unable to break into last term’s promotion-winning team.
Mousinho has his biggest task in man management yet over the next few months as the Blues continue to navigate their new surroundings.
In other Portsmouth news, David Norris believes the club did not spend enough in transfer fees.
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